County Lines drug dealer jailed for supplying drugs in Widnes and Runcorn

A 35-year-old man who supplied Class A and Class B drugs into Widnes and Runcorn has been jailed for five and a half years.

Sean Fell, aged 35, of The Glebe, Runcorn, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 3 November, after pleading guilty to a number of offences.

Fell was sentenced to 5 years 6 months for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs (cocaine, crack cocaine, amphetamine), concerned in the supply of Class B drugs (cannabis) and possession of an offensive weapon.

Operation Toxic officers led an investigation which proved Fell’s involvement in a County Lines drug supply in Runcorn and Widnes.

Officers carried out warrants and seizures on a number of occasions during the investigation, including in May 2023 when officers found a graft phone attributed to Fell at his address. In September 2023, officers executed a further warrant at his address where they seized a samurai sword.

CCTV and telephone evidence linked Fell to a graft phone which was found to be sending hundreds of text messages to local users advertising the sale of Class A and Class B drugs across Runcorn and Widnes.

He appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 3 November where he was sentenced to 5 years 6 months.

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Gary Stratton said: “This investigation forms part of our ongoing work to tackle serious organised crime, close county lines and target those who are involved in the large-scale supply of drugs across Merseyside and into other areas.

“Fell was a key figure in the drug supply chain across Runcorn and Widnes and we are pleased that he is now behind bars and unable to cause any more harm in our communities.

“Project Medusa has closed more than 1,100 county lines over the last four years. Our fight against serious organised crime is never over, and we would urge anyone with information to come forward so we can pursue those involved and put them before the courts.”

Operation Toxic is part of Project Medusa – a Merseyside-led initiative set up to tackle County Lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation across the country.

Since 2019, Project Medusa officers have closed 1,101 county lines; arrested 2,421 people for various offences including drug supply, firearms offences and money laundering; and identified 1,256 vulnerable adults and children who have been referred to safeguarding services.

If you have concerns about drug dealing in your area you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, call Merseyside Police on 101 or DM @MerpolCC.  Always contact 999 if a crime is in progress.